Adjustable Stand Ratchet Ring for Fine Rotation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current camera stands with gear-based adjustment systems face limitations in achieving fine rotation angles, as the minimum rotation angle is constrained by the number of gear teeth, making it difficult to achieve angles smaller than 7 degrees without increasing the complexity and cost of the stand.
Innovation Solution
The adjustable stand incorporates a rotation component with first ratchet teeth, an adapter ring with third ratchet teeth, and a rotation limiting component with second ratchet teeth, allowing for fine adjustments by engaging ratchet teeth with different angles and slopes, enabling rotations as small as 0.3 to 0.7 degrees.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the number of gear teeth is increased to achieve smaller minimum rotation angles, then the rotation precision is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adjustment mechanism into multiple independent components: a rotation component with first ratchet teeth, an adapter ring with second ratchet teeth, and a rotation limiting component with third ratchet teeth. Each component has a different number of teeth, allowing fine rotation angles to be achieved through combinations of these segmented parts rather than requiring a single complex gear with many teeth.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter ring is nested between the rotation component and the rotation limiting component, with each layer contributing to the overall rotation precision. The multiple ratchet tooth systems are arranged in concentric nested structures, allowing fine adjustments through the interaction of nested components with different tooth configurations.
2Measurement precision
If the number of gear teeth is increased to achieve 1 degree rotation, then the minimum rotation angle is reduced, but the manufacturing cost and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing a single gear with 360 teeth for 1-degree precision, the patent segments the system into multiple components with fewer teeth each. The rotation component, adapter ring, and rotation limiting component each have manageable tooth counts that can be manufactured using standard processes, while their combination achieves the desired 1-degree or finer precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Different components have different local tooth configurations optimized for their specific functions. The rotation component, adapter ring, and rotation limiting component each have ratchet teeth with specific numbers and arrangements tailored to their roles in the fine adjustment mechanism, allowing each to be manufactured with appropriate local quality rather than requiring uniform high-complexity gears throughout.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for precise fine adjustments of the camera stand, enabling rotations by small angles without the need for increasing the number of gear teeth, thus reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining precision.
Implementation Method 1
The rotation component may include a plurality of first ratchet teeth arranged along a first circle on a first side of the rotation component. The rotation limiting component may include a plurality of second ratchet teeth arranged along a circle on a second side of the rotation limiting component.
Implementation Method 2
The adapter ring may include a plurality of third ratchet teeth arranged along a third circle on a third side of the adapter ring and a plurality of fourth ratchet teeth arranged along a fourth circle on a fourth side of the adapter ring. The plurality of third ratchet teeth may be engaged with the plurality of first ratchet teeth and the plurality of fourth ratchet teeth are engaged with the plurality of second ratchet teeth.
Data Source
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AI summary
A stand (300) and a system are disclosed. The stand (300) may include a supporting component (330), a rotation component (320), a rotation limiting component (310), and an adapter ring (340). The rotation component may be rotatably connected to the supporting component and may be configured to rotate about a first rotation axis. The adapter ring may be placed between the rotation component and the rotation limiting component. The rotation component may include a first ratchet teeth (321) on the first side of the rotation component. The rotation limiting component may include a second ratchet teeth (311) on the second side of the rotation limiting component facing the first side. The adapter ring may include a third ratchet teeth (341) and a fourth ratchet teeth (342) on the third side and the fourth side of the adapter ring, respectively. The third ratchet teeth may be engaged with the first ratchet teeth and the fourth ratchet teeth may be engaged with the second ratchet teeth.